By JOHN VAN KLAVEREN
AS A MAN previously defined by his fitness and physical presence, a debilitating permanent leg injury was an eye-opener for Ocean Grove’s Marty Jackson.
Nicknamed ‘Nastee’, Marty was a gridiron warrior, fighting it out in the trenches, taking hits and delivering them with equal ferocity.
But a misplaced helmet hit to the left leg cut short the career of the founder of Geelong’s successful Buccaneers gridiron team.
Nerve damage left the leg dangling almost useless below the knee, even with the support of a cumbersome brace.
“I’ve done myself a bit of mischief,” the 36-year-old said understatedly.
“It was a freak accident that basically paralysed my leg below the knee. But that’s the cards you’re dealt.
“There’s no point in sulking. You just keep moving forward.
“I’m not one to sit around, anyway – I get bored,” he laughed.
Such was Marty’s gusto to regain his physicality that he began upper-body workouts when doctors expected him bedridden or at least confined to an armchair.
The workouts inspired Marty to take up discuss, shotput and javelin, putting his naturally robust chest and arm strength to good use.
At the first opportunity he contacted Australian Paralympic Committee about qualifying for the Brazil Olympics.
He is now registered with the Paralympics’ high-performance committee and awaiting his classification, which he believed would be S44 for single-leg below-knee amputations or nerve damage.
“I’m quite muscular at 104kg because I’ve done weightlifting for 20 years. I was squatting 300 kg before this,” Marty explained.
“I’ve gone from the top of my game and have to start again at the bottom.
“It’s a completely new technique. It’s like, ‘Wow, here I go again, I’m the new guy’.”
Marty has sought inspiration from Paralympians like Kelly Cartwright, Richard Colman and Tim Matthews.
The experience also opened his eyes to people’s changed perceptions of him.
“I suppose it’s human nature because I walk like I have cerebral palsy but people look at me funny and you realise what people with disabilities go through daily.”
Marty’s gridiron team mates have started a fundraising appeal to get him back on his feet.
Teammate Glenn Gattellaro said Marty had devoted his life to helping friends and family while contributing to the community.
“Marty isn’t after sympathy but I reckon it’s only fair for people to have the opportunity to give back to such a great bloke who has done so much for so many.
“By raising funds Marty will be able to purchase a leg apparatus along with medication, physio and rehabilitation.”
Donors can search Nastee at fundraising page indiegogo.com.
